Improvement in hydrant and street-washer combined



J. H. KENNEDY.

HYDRANT AND STREET WASHER COMBINED.

nu n u MFETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPMER, WASHINGTON, D C.

NITED STArEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. KENNEDY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN HYDRANT AND STREET-WASHER COMBINED.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 181,580, dated August 29, 1876; application filed July 28, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. KENNEDY, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hydrant and Street-Washer Combined, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making a part of this specilication, in which- Figure lis a side view of the hydrant. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section. The other figures are detached sections.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views. l

` The nature of this invention relates to a hydrant, and which consists of a peculiar mode of opening and closing the valve thereof; the construction of which and the operation of the same are substantially as follows:

The hydrant referred' to consists of an outer shell, A, to the upper end of which is screwed a collar, B, wherefrom projects the spout C. Into said collar is screwed a nut, D,through which passes a valve-stem, E. rlhe lower end of the nut is a seat for the valve F. Said valve forms an integral part of the stem, as will be seen in Fig. 2. The stein E is attached to a valve-stein, G, by a link, G', inthe end of which is formed a socket, H, wherein the end of the valve-stern G is inserted, and therein secured by a pin, h, and slot c in the end of the rod G, for the pin to move in, as will be seen in Fig. 2. The upper end of the link G isattached to the valvestein E by a sleeve, E. The connections of the stem and lilik to each other is a little loose, to allow the adjustment of the valve F to its seat. The pins a pass through the sleeve at right angles to each other, thereby making a free connection, for

the purpose aforesaid.

shown in Fig. 2. Detached views of the thinlble are shown in Figs.3 and 4.. An inside view of the same is shown in Fig. 5.

Two opposite edges of the rim of the thimbleare. formed into an arc of a circle, as will be seen at e in Fig. 3, making a kind of a.

cam on the two sides of the thmble. The other two quartering sides or edges of the thmble are left square, as will be seen at d, the purpose of which will presently be shown. From two sides of the head H, referred to, project studs f. In each side of said head, quartering the studs, is made a groove, L, Figs. 6 and 7.

It will be seen that the'valve I, terminating the head H, alluded to, is of a length equal to the diameter ofthe head, but much narrower, it being only wide enough to cover the opening i, Fig. 5, made in the valve-seat. By the side of said opening is a small aperture or veut, m, leading to the outside ofthe thmble, as will be seen in. Fig. 3, the purpose of which will hereinafter be explained.

The practical operation ofthe hydrant above described is as follows: By means of the nut M, forming the end ofthe thmble, the .hy-

drant is attached to the water-main by a pipe or otherwise, the hydrant being set in the ground for that purpose. valve I, as shown in Fig. 2, is such as when down upon its seat, closing the opening i; hence water is shut oft' from the hydrant. In this position of the valve the studs j' referred to are lodged in the notches a', Figs. 3 and 5, at the foot of the cam or inclines e of the thmble.

In order to open the valve to fill the hydrant, the valve is turned in direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, by the handle N. rIhis turning ofthe valve causes the lugs f to ascend the curve or cam e to the position thereon as shown in Fig. 3, thereby lifting the valve from its seat while being turned by the handle to the position shown in Fig. 6. Water will now fiow into the hydrant through the opening i, filling it to the spout C, from which it iiows, it being unable to pass up around the stem E, through the nut D, in consequence of the valve F, which is continued in its seat by the spring P. Said spring not only keeps the valve F in place, but it also forces down The position of the l the valve I when the rod is turned for closing it. The valve I, when closed, covers only the opening i; hence the Waterlei't in the hydrant Will flow therefrom through the Waste-vent m to the outside, so that no Water remains in the hydrant When shut oft' to freeze up in cold Weather. The purpose of the grooves L, referred to, is to allow the Water to pass up above the head H into the hydrant, the head being too closely fitted in the thirnble to permit Water to flow freely up around it; hence the necessity of the grooves. On turning the valve a quarter of the Way around, (practically the proper distance it should be turned for charging the hydrant,) the lugs f will slide from the crown of the cam (their position shown in Fig. 3) into the notches a, Figs. 3 and 5. This Will place the valve transversely across the openingr i, and at the same time allowing it again to rest down on its seat, so that it may cover the waste-vent m, and thus prevent Water from iiowing back through it, While it is flowing into the hydrant through the opening z'. The Water passes directly up the grooves L, Which, on turning the Vvalve a quarter around, as aforesaid, brings them in direct and open relation With the opening fi, and when the valve is again closed it leaves the Waste-vent open for the Water left in the hydrant to escape therefrom. rlhe object lof raising the valve I by theinclines or cams e on openingit is to prevent the Wearing of the valve-packin g, which, it' the valve were turned While upon its seat, it would wear away and eventually the valve would become leaky. Obviously, this is avoided by lifting the valve While it is' being opened. The valve, When needing repairs, or for other purposes, can be easily and readily taken from the caseby unscrewing the nut D, which will allow its WithdraWal from the case for that purpose.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the case A, the thimble J, provided with inclines or cams e and valve-seat b, in the manner substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The valve-head H', studsf, and valve I, in combination With'the thimble J and shell or case A, in the manner substantially as described, andfor the purpose specified.

3. The valve-head1?, stem G, spring P,

anfl link G', in combination with the valve F,

nut D, and case A, substantially in the manner as described, and for the purpose specified.

JOHN H; KENNEDY. Witnesses:

W. H. BURRIDGE, J onN J. KENNEDY. 

